‘Best Start’ celebrates new hub

FORT FRANCES—Despite the beautiful weather on Saturday, plenty of parents and children stopped by the Fort Frances Children’s Complex to celebrate the opening of the local “Best Start” hub.
The Rainy River District “Best Start” Network hosted the event to acknowledge the facility’s name change from the Family Resource Program/Ontario Early Years Centre to the “Best Start” hub.

Audrey Tyrvainen, co-ordinator of the “Best Start” hub, explained it is a welcoming place where families with young children can explore a variety of early-learning programs during drop-in or scheduled groups.
“We’re still offering the same great programing [despite the name change],” she stressed. “But we want to work more with the community to help families.
“We’ve been doing that and we want to continue.”
There were a number of activities for children to participate in from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., including a giant game of “Snakes and Ladders,” a fish pond, a small ball pit, and a coin hunt.
There also was music and plenty of food.
As well, Tyrvainen offered up some remarks on behalf of Donna Cutler, chair of the Rainy River “Best Start” Network, who could not attend Saturday’s event.
“While today marks change and the introduction of the concept of the ‘Best Start’ hub to this community, it is also a day to celebrate the excellent relationship that already exists among service providers in Fort Frances,” she read.
“The hub opening demonstrates forward movement and the commitment of front-line workers in the community to provide a seamless system of services for families in the area.”
Some of the programs offered at what now will be known as the “Best Start” hub are workshops and information on parenting and child development.
On-site lending services also are available that offer a variety of books for parents and children, as well as toys and equipment.
Over time, the hub will be able to incorporate more services for families by strengthening their linkages with other community services and organizations.
“This is a wonderful example of what happens when you bring together people in our community who work with children and families,” Tyrvainen enthused.
For more information about the “Best Start” hub services and programs, call 274-8588.
(Fort Frances Times)